Sindh government passed a controversial local government bill against the popular will of the majority indigenous Sindhis, which may lead to downfall of president Zardari and PPP. Many foresee a rise in the freedom movements across the province.

PAKISTAN'S SINDH assembly passed the Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance (SPLGO) against the will of the majority of people on Monday last amid protests in the house by the parliamentarians and in the streets across the province.

This unpopular and ethnically discriminating move was carried jointly by the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and its coalition partner MQM.

Sindhi nationalists, the Save Sindh Committee and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) on September 30 evening called for a strike against the legislation besides the unexpected and surprise summon for provincial legislative assembly's session by Governor of Sindh, Ishratul Ibad who is also a leader of Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

The strike was peacefully observed across the province. The shutters remained down, traffic was absent from the roads, and protest demos were held in almost every district of the province; however, the majority parts of the two districts out of five in Karachi -- Karachi Central and Karachi West remained open.

The Sindh Assembly parliamentarians of Pakistan Muslim League – Functional (PML-F), Awami National Party (ANP) and National People’s Party (NPP) tore the copies of the ordinance as Law Minister read it out to the assembly.

“Coalition partners of the PPP had earlier also staged a protest in front of Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Khuhro’s dais as their request for sitting on the opposition benches was not fulfilled,” reported Express News. They also sat on the floor in the assembly against the legislation. The Sindh Assembly session began with a delay of 2.5 hours.

The analysts in the province are of the opinion that such an unpopular move against the interests of the majority indigenous population of the province can culminate into a beginning of the PPP’s downfall in the province. Sindhi nationalists are of the opinion that SPLGO is a move for dividing Sindh in future.

It is also predicted by the analysts that after such a move, Sindhi nationalists will further be strengthened in the province. Many also believe that this may cause a rise in the already on-going freedom movement in Sindh.